Netanyahu to attend Graham funeral, seeks Trump meeting

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to travel to Washington on Saturday, July 18, 2026, to attend the funeral of the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, with officials working to arrange a meeting with President Donald Trump during the visit. The potential talks come amid a significant military escalation between the United States and Iran and ongoing strategic decisions regarding regional security and nuclear diplomacy.

Netanyahu is scheduled to remain in Washington through at least Tuesday, July 21, the day Graham’s funeral is set to be held. While a meeting with President Trump has not been formally confirmed, Israeli officials expect it to occur on Sunday or Monday. This would be the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since February 11, when they met in the White House Situation Room.

The visit occurs against a backdrop of intensified conflict. For four consecutive days, the U.S. military has conducted strikes against Iranian targets, including air defense systems and missile launchers, primarily in the Strait of Hormuz region. This action followed Iranian attacks on commercial shipping. In response, Iran has launched missiles and drones at...